The Ultimate Animal Consciousness Quiz

Is it true that elephants never forget? If they don't, just what kind of things do they remember? If you've ever wondered whether animals demonstrate consciousness, find out by taking this quiz.

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Question 1 of 15

Can elephants create art?

Give me a break.

Some of their work hangs in the top galleries.

In some people's eyes it's art.

Elephants in Thailand are trained to paint -- to hold brushes with their trunks and to make strokes on a canvas. Trainers leave the elephants to develop their own styles.

Question 2 of 15

Does what the elephants do represent a form of self-expression?

no definite answer

It's a difficult question to answer. Most elephants do abstract paintings, although a few can apparently do figurative images of elephant forms. Let's leave the question open.

definitely yes

no way

Question 3 of 15

When an elephant paints a portrayal of the elephant form, is it aware it is doing a portrait or self-portrait?

It's clear that the elephant is expressing itself.

Since the elephant cannot paint figurative or abstract on demand, answer is no.

It has probably learned to fine-tune what it was trained to do.

One way of looking at this is that the elephant has probably learned to fine-tune its skills at depicting the elephant form.

Question 4 of 15

Considering the centuries of questions regarding consciousness, have conclusive verdicts been reached?

a lot

not many

Few conclusive verdicts have in fact been reached.

none

Question 5 of 15

What are three fundamental aspects of consciousness that are still uncertain?

philosophical, psychological, biological

neurological, sensory, perceptive

definition of the term, physical and psychological occurrences, qualifying manifestations

Consciousness can be defined in different ways, it may occur differently in physical as well as psychological terms, and it remains to be concluded to what degree its manifestation is understood intuitively by most people as consciousness.

Question 6 of 15

What is the main problem in researching animal consciousness?

There are so many types of animals.

Animals are private creatures and don't want to share their thoughts.

Animals can't talk.

Animals lack the necessary language skills to convey to researchers their perceptions and understandings.

Question 7 of 15

To demonstrate consciousness, does an animal need to have a self-awareness of its place and see itself as an active agent?

no definitive answer

The simple answer is that no one knows. The answers to this and other questions are as varied as the researchers working in the field.

no

yes

Question 8 of 15

Do people intuitively believe big-brained mammals exhibit signs of consciousness?

People always need proof.

They do.

Many people believe that big-brained mammals exhibit some signs of consciousness, although this is intuitive and not necessarily based on solid evidence.

People are unable to define consciousness.

Question 9 of 15

How do those people who believe mammals display consciousness feel about consciousness in insects and worms?

uncertain

Their beliefs waver probably because of the differing sizes of brains between mammals and insects.

same as mammals

don't believe

Question 10 of 15

What did early research show regarding members of the great ape family and their reflections in mirrors?

None of them recognized their own reflections.

Some recognized their own reflections.

Research showed that some of them recognized their own reflections.

They were all afraid of their own reflections.

Question 11 of 15

What were the findings regarding elephants and dolphins?

Elephants do not recognize themselves.

Dolphins do not recognize themselves.

They display clear signs of recognition.

It was found that they, too, display clear signs of recognition.

Question 12 of 15

A study in 2008 published interesting findings about magpies. What were they?

The magpies tried to attack their own reflections.

Magpies, in front of a mirror, tried to examine strange marks beneath their beaks.

It found that magpies try to examine strange markings placed indirectly beneath their beaks when facing a mirror.

Magpies seemed to attempt to communicate with their reflections.

Question 13 of 15

What kind of test was developed for dolphins?

The test checked the ability to determine which box contained a toy.

The test checked their ability to open a door.

The test checked interest in a mark without hand gestures.

The test developed was to indicate the degree of interest in a mark without hand gestures.

Question 14 of 15

Regarding bees, what did researchers find?

Bees in a maze could retain and generalize information

They were able to train bees to fly through mazes based on colored visual cues, even when those cues were replaced with similar ones, thereby showing an ability to retain and generalize information.

Bees can process information in a changing environment.

Bees were unable to be trained.

Question 15 of 15

Is it likely that bees contemplate the meaning of life while flying from flower to flower?